Printer mechanism

ABSTRACT

A cash register feed mechanism for positioning a record form during a printing operation in which the preceding printed line and the next print line to be printed on are visible to the operator at the end of the printing operation. A drive member operating a feed mechanism conditions a stop member when operating the feed mechanism during a first feed operation to limit the movement of the drive member during a second feed operation whereby the next print line of the record form is positioned for a subsequent printing operation.

United States Patent Inventor Anthony W. Nosil, Jr.

Kettering, Ohio Appl. No 837,689 Filed June 30, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 Assignee The National Csh Register Company Dayton, Ohio PRINTER MECHANISM 9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

U.S.'Cl .Q 101/93 MN, l97/128,235/60P Int. Cl B41j19/00 Field oiSearch 101/93 R, 93 MN, 96; 235/58 P, 60 P; 197/127 R, 128, DIG. 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,854 7/1957 Werner et a]. 101/93 MN 3,100,037 8/1963 Green et a1. l97/DlG. 9

Primary Examiner- Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. A. Oliff Attorneys- Louis A. Kline, Wilbert I-Iawk, Jr. and Richard W.

Lavin ABSTRACT: A cash register feed mechanism for positioning a record form during a printing operation in which the preceding printed line and the next print line to be printed on are visible to the operator at the end of the printing operation. A drive member operating a feed mechanism conditions a stop member when operating the feed mechanism during a first feed operation to limit the movement of the drive member during a second feed operation whereby the next print line of the record form is positioned for a subsequent printing operation.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ANTHONY W. NOSIL JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ANTHONY w. NOSIL JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 \Lmm fr u l- FIG. IO

HIS ATTORNEYS INVENTOR ANTHONY W. NOSIL JR.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,044

5 Sheets-sheet 5 I M 100 2238 250 4 I 3 18.25TQT INVENTOR ANTHONY W. NOSIL JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS PRINTER MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENTS Accounting Machine, US. Pat. No. 2,616,623, issued Nov. 4, 1952, on the application of Mayo A. Goodbar et al. Programmable Function Control Mechanism, US. Pat. No. 3,431,401, issued Mar. 4, 1969, on the application of Louis E. Zurbuchen et al.

I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a feed mechanism for feeding a record slip from a slip table in a cash register to a position where a print operation occurs on a print line, returning the record slip to its home position, and then feeding the slip forward the distance of one print' line to condition the slip for a subsequent printing operation. With this arrangement, the operator can check the result of the print operation and the condition of the record slip for the next print operation. The record slip is of the type which includes the information in written form for which the amount to be charged is inserted into the cash register and printed on the record slip. This requires the operator to view the record slip before each printing operation occurs.

Prior mechanisms have utilized a punch mechanism to punch a control aperture in the record slip during each printing operation and a sensing device to position the record slip for the next print operation upon sensing the control aperture as the record slip is fed back towards its home position. This type of mechanism has had a poor record of performance because of jam-ups of the feedmechanism due to the chad from the punch mechanism interfering with the feed mechanism and the failure of the sensing mechanism to sense the control aperture in the card. Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a feed mechanism for a cash register to accomplish the above-cited operations which is simple in construction and operation and therefore low in cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjusting means for adjusting the length of feed of the feed mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A slip feed mechanism including a drive member recipro' cally driven between two'positions, a feed roll operated by the drive member to move the record slip to and from a printing position, a blocking member normally latched from a blocking position with said drive member, and a latch member actuated by the drive member when operating the feed roll to position the record slip in a printing position, to release the blocking member to a position limiting the movement of the drive member so that, after each printing operation, the record slip is moved to condition the next print line for a printing operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cash register embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graphic representation of the timing of the various control cams in relation to one revolution of the main cam shaft.

FIG. 3 is a partial detailed side view of the slip feed mechanism shown in its home position, with the feed roll open.

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed side view of the secondary feed roll control mechanism used to open or close the feed roll between 305 and 320 of revolution of the main cam shaft.

FIG. 5 is a partial detailed side view of the main feed roll control mechanism used to open or close the feed roll, the mechanism being shown in the home position, with the feed roll in the open position. 1

FIG. 6 is the same view as shown in FIG. 3, with the slip feed mechanism shown at the end of the feed operation with the record slip in a printing position.

FIG. 7 is the same view as shown in FIG. 5, with the main feed roll control mechanism shown in a tripped position, with the feed roll closed, and showing the position of the drive pitman in this condition.

FIG. 8 is a partial detailed side view of the feed roll storing mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the feed roll drive mechanism, the main and secondary feed roll control mechanisms, and the slip retainer mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a partial detailed side view of the slip retainer mechanism, which is operated between 290 and 340 0 operation of the main cam shaft.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 5, showing the drive connections between the drive pitman and the feed roll.

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of the slip'table, showing the position of a record slip in relation to the index mark on the index strip mounted to the slip table.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now' to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a cash register 20, in which the present invention is utilized. Included in the cash register are the well-known features of a keyboard 21, which includes a number of banks of amount keys 22 for setting up amounts in the cash register and a number of rows of transaction keys 23, which are used to control the various machine operations. Located on the left side of the cash register is a slip table 24, on which a record slip 25 is positioned prior to a machine operation. Secured to the slip table is a plastic guide 26 (FIGS. 1 and 12) having a cutout portion 27 (FIG. 12), in which is securely positioned a plastic index strip 28, on which an index mark 30 is located. The index strip 28 contains a number of teeth 31, which mesh with teeth 32 located in the plastic guide along the cutout portion 27. These teeth function to position the index strip within the cutout portion of the plastic guide 26. The operator aligns the first print line of the record slip 25 with the index mark 30. The operator then indexes, in the amount keys of the cash register, the amount to be charged for the type of product listed on the print line. The machine operation is then initiated by the depression of the appropriate transaction key 23 (FIG. 1), during which time the slip 25 is fed into a printing position within the machine. The printing operation then occurs, after which the, slip is fed back out to the original position and then moved forward a distance to align the second or next print line on the slip with the index mark 30. At this time, the operator can observe and check the validity of the print and the next item to be indexed in the cash register. If any further information is to be inserted and printed on the slip, this operation will occur. If a total operation is to occur, the slip 25 is again fed into the machine automatically for a second, or total-printing, operation. These operations are all controlled by the depression of the appropriate transaction keys in the manner well known in the art. Reference should be made to the abovecited US. Pat. No. 2,616,623 for a complete description of the operation of a cash register or accounting machine of the type which is disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11, there are shown detail views of the feed roll apparatus and its drive control mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, rotatably mounted on a shaft 33 are a pair of feed roll arms 34 secured together by a hub member 35. The shaft 33 is secured between a pair of side frame members 50, 51. Rotatably supported between the arms 34 is a feed roll shaft 36 (FIG. 11), to which are pinned a feed roll 37 and a pinion gear 38. The pinion gear 38 engages a second pinion gear 40, which in turn is pinned to a drive shaft 41 rotatably supported by the arms 34 and positioned within a slot 39 (FIG. 3) located in a slip feed pitman 44. As shownin FIG. 11, pinned to one end of the drive shaft 41 is a pinion gear 42, which, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, engages a rack member 43 mounted to the slip feed pitman 44. Movement of the pitman 44 results in the rotation of the feed roll 37 through the pinion gears 42, 40, and 38.

As shown in FIG. 5, there is rotatably mounted on a stud 45, secured to the lower extension of the left feed roll arm 34, a

link member 46, which is normally urged to the right, as

viewed in FIG. 5, by a spring 47, secured between a stud 48, mounted on the link, and a portion of the machine frame. The other end of the link 46 contains a slot 52 (FIG. 8), within which is positioned a stud 53, mounted on one end of the lever arm 54. The lever arm 54 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 55, secured between the side frame members 50, 51 (FIG. 9). The other end of the arm 54 has a cutout portion 56, which yokes a stud 57, mounted on one end of a cam follower arm 58, rotatably mounted on a shaft 60 secured between the side frame members 50, 51. The other end of the arm 58 has a roll 61, which is normally urged into engagement with a cam member 62 by a spring 63 mounted between the stud 53 and a stud 64 secured to the side frame member 50. The cam member 62 is secured to a cam shaft 77. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the rotation of the cam 62 controls the restoration of the feed roll 37 to its home position during a machine operation.

A described previously, the spring 47 normally urges the link 46 to the right, as shown in FIG. 5. This action rotates the feed roll arms 34 and the feed roll 37 counterclockwise about the shaft 33, thereby bringing the feed roll into engagement with a record slip positioned on the slip table 24. Controlling this engaging movement is a latch retainer 65 rotatably mounted on a stud 66 (FIGS. and 9) secured to the side frame member 51. A spring 67, mounted between a stud 68 secured to one end of the retainer 65 and a stud 70 (FIG. 4) mounted on a cam follower arm 81, normally urges the latch retainer counterclockwise about the stud 66 to allow one end of the retainer to latch over a stud 72 amounted on the link 46, thus blocking the movement of the link 46 to the right. This action holds the feed roll 37 disengaged from the record slip.

The release of the link 46 to the action of the spring 47 by the latch retainer 65 is controlled by two mechanisms. As

shown in FIG. 5, the latch retainer 65 has secured thereto a stud 73, which is yoked by one end of a cam follower arm 74 rotatably mounted on the shaft 60. The other end of the arm 74 extends into the path of a stud 75 mounted on a cam 76 secured to the cam shaft 77. The rotation of the cam 76 by the shaft 77, allows the stud 75 to rock the arm 74 counterclockwise and the latch retainer 65 clockwise, thus releasing the link 46 to the action of the spring 47, which results in the closing of the feed roll 37 on the record slip. The timing of this operation will be described more fully hereinafter.

- Referring now to FIG. 4, where the second control mechanism of the latch retainer 65 is shown, as described above, the latch retainer 65 is normally urged in a latching direction by the spring 67, which is attached to one end of the cam follower arm 71. The arm 71 has a roll 78, which is normally urged into engagement with the cam 76 by a spring 80, secured between a stud 82 mounted on the arm 71 and a stud secured to a frame member.

Associated with the cam arm 71 is a selecting plate 83, which is snapped over a plate 79 pinned to a drive shaft 84, which in turn is rotatably mounted within the machine. The shaft 84 is rocked to position a notch 85 with respect to a stud 86 mounted on the cam arm 71. The amount of rotation given to the shaft 84 is dependent on the transaction key that is depressed to initiate the machine operation. Thus the position of the selecting plate 83 is controlled by the transaction keys of the cash register. Reference should be made to US. Pat. No. 3,431,401, issued to Louis E. Zurbuchen et al. on Mar. 4, 1969, for a complete disclosure of the method of positioning the shaft 84 according to the transaction key that is depressed to initiate the machine operation. As the cam 76 rotates clockwise, the arm 71 is released to the action of the spring 80. If the notch 85 has been positioned adjacent to the stud 86, the spring 80 rocks the arm 71 counterclockwise, allowing the stud 70, which, as shown in FIG. 9, overhangs the latch retainer 65, to cam the latch retainer 65 clockwise, thereby releasing the link 46 to the action of the spring 47. If the notch 85 is not positioned adjacent to the stud 86, the cam surface 87 of the selecting plate 83 disables the operation of the arm 71, thus keeping the feed roll 37 from closing on the record slip.

Associated with the feed roll 37 is a pressure roll 88 (FIG.

5), which coacts with the feed roll 37 to move the record slip has an extension 94 (FIG. 9) with a stud 95 mounted on its end. The stud 95 is normally positioned on the slip table, 24 by the action of the spring 92. In this position, the upper end of the arm latches the key lock line 96 located in the cash register. As is well known in the art of cash registers, rocking of the key lock line 96 resultsin the initiation of a machine operation. Reference should be made to the previously cited Goodbar et al., US. Pat. No. 2,616,623, for a complete description of the operation of a key lock line. Thus, as long as a record slip is not positioned on the slip table, the cash register is prevented from being operated. Insertion of a record slip on the slip table rocks the arm 90 counterclockwise, releasing the key lock line. The stud still exerts a drag on the record slip due to the action of the spring 92. In order to release this drag when the feed operation is to occur, there is mounted on the feed roll arms 34 a release arm 97 (FIGS. 5

AND 9), which engages the arm 90 and rocks it counterclockwise uponthe counterclockwise rotation of the arms 34. This action lifts the stud 95 from engagement with the record slip, allowing the feed roll 37 to move the record slip to a printing position. Both the feed roll 37 and the pressure roll 88 are positioned adjacently to a cutout portion (not shown) of the slip table, allowing the rolls to control and engage the record slip.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, there is shown a mechanism for driving the record slip to a printing position and then back to its home position, followed by a second feed operation, which positions the record slip so that the next print line is conditioned for a print operation. This mechanism returns the slip to a position to allow the operator to check the results of the printing operation. FIG. 3 shows the feed roll drive mechanism in the home position. As disclosed previously, the feed roll 37 (FIG. 11) is driven through the'pinion gears 38, 40, and 42 and the rack 43, which is mounted to the feed roll pitman 44. The feed roll pitman 44 is rotatably and slidably mounted on the' shaft 33 by means of a slot 98. A stud 100, mounted on the front end of the pitman, is positioned in a slot 101 located at one end of a drive link 102. A spring 103, mounted between the stud and a stud 104, secured to the link 102, couples the link 102 and the pitman 44 together.

The other end of the link 102 is rotatably mounted on a lever arm 105, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the shaft 55. The other end of the arm 105 is yoked over a stud 106 mounted on a cam follower arm 107. The arm 107 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 60 andhas mounted thereon-a roller 6 108, which engages a cam 110. A spring 111, mounted between the arm 105 and a stud 112 secured to the side frame 50 (FIG. 9), normally urges the roller 108 into engagement with the cam 110. This movement is limited by a selecting plate 113 snapped on a plate 109, which is pinned to the shaft 84 and which coacts with a stud 114, mounted on the arm 107. A notch 115 in the selecting plate controls the counterclockwise movement of the arm 107 and the movement of the pitman 44 in the same manner described previously with respect to the selecting plate 83 (FIG. 4).

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 33, adjacent to the pitman 44, is a selecting arm 116 (FIGS. 3 and 9), on which is mounted a pair of studs 117, 118. Also mounted on the arm 116 is a support block 120. Slidably mounted on the studs 117, 118 is a feed selecting slide 121 having a rear end flange portion 122, extending adjacent to the support block 120, and i a front end flange portion 123, extending beneath a cutout portion 124 of the feed roll pitman 44. An adjusting screw 125, mounted in the block 120 and engaging the rear flange portion 122, is used to vary the clearance between the edge of the front flange portion 123 and the lip of the cutout portion 124 of the pitman 44. As will be described more fully hereinafter, this clearance controls the length of feed given to the record slip to position the next print line for a printing operation.

A similar arrangement is used to control the length of movement of the feed roll pitman 44. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 33 is an adjusting arm 126, having a support block 127 mounted thereon. The am 126 contains a slot 128, within which is positioned a stud 130 secured to a selecting arm 131, which in turn is slidably mounted on the shaft 33. The selecting arm 131 has a front flange portion 132, positioned within the slot 98 of the pitman 44, and a rear flange portion 133, located adjacent the support block 127. An adjusting screw 134, mounted in the block 127, slidably positions the flanged portion 132 of the arm 131 with respect to the front end of the slot 98 of the pitman 44. As will be described more fully hereinafter, this adjustment controls the length of movement of the pitman 44 and the length of feed given to the record slip when it is moving from its home position to a printing position.

Rotatably mounted on a stud 135, secured to the side frame 50 (FIGS. 3 and 9), is a latch member 136, positioned adjacent the pitman 44. The latch member 136 has a lower extension 137, which contains a lip portion 138. The latch member 136 has a backwardly extending flange portion 140, which extends over the pitman 44, and also an arm portion 141, to which is mounted on end of a spring 142, the other end of which is attached to a hook portion 143 of the feed selecting slide 121. The action of the spring 142, as viewed in FIG. 3, forces theflange portion 123 of the slide 121 into engagement with the pitman 44, and the lower extension 137 of the latch member 136 moves against the flange portion 123 of the selecting slide 121. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the function of the latch member 136 is to selectively position the flange portion 123 of the slide 121 so as to limit the movement of the pitman 44, which results in movement of the record slip a distance of one print line, so that the next print line will automatically be positioned in a printing position by the feed mechanism.

There will now be described a typical operation of the slip feed mechanism in which an amount is to be printed on the slip. As shown in FIG. 12, the operator inserts a record slip on the slip table 24 (FIG. 1) and aligns the first print line with the index mark 30. Positioning of the slip on the slip table rocks the compulsory slip arm 90 (FIG. 5) counterclockwise, thereby releasing the key lock line 96 for operation. The information that is to be printed is then indexed on the appropriate amount keys 22 (FIG. 1), and a machine operation is initiated by the depression of one of the transaction keys 23. As is well known in the art, a machine operation cycles the cam shaft 77 through 390 of operation in the case of an amount entry operation or 510 of operation in the case of a totalizing operation. These operations are controlled by the particular transaction key that is depressed.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is disclosed a schematic representation of the timing operation of the cam shaft 77 and the various cams secured thereto during 360 of its revolution. As shown, between and 45 the cam 76 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is rotated by the cam shaft 77 to allow the stud 75, mounted on the cam 76, to rock the arm 74 and the latch retainer 65 to release the link 46 for movement to the right, as shown in FIG. 7, under the action of the spring 47. This action rotates the feed roll 37 into engagement with the record slip against the pressure roll 88. Since the slip feed pitman 44 is engaged by the shaft 41 (FIG. 11), the pitman 44 also is rotated in the same direction about the shaft 33. The flange portion 123 of the slide 121, normally positioned behind the cutout portion 124 (FIG. 3) of the pitman 44, tends to follow the pitman 44 due to the action of the spring 142, but is stopped by the lip 138 of the latch 136, thus releasing the pitman 44 for movement to the left, as viewed in FIG. 7.

At 160 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, the cam (FIGS. 3 and 6) begins to rock the cam arm 107 counterclockwise. Prior to this operation, the selecting plates 1 13 and 83 (FIG. 4) will have been positioned due to the operation of the shaft 84. The selecting plates are positioned according to the transaction key that is depressed. In this operation, the notch (FIG. 6) of the selecting plate 113 is positioned adjacent the stud 114 of the arm 107, so that the cam 110 releases the arm 105 to the action of the spring 111, resulting in the movement of the pitman 44 to the left, thereby rotating the feed roll 37 clockwise. The record slip is moved from the slip table into a printing position by this operation of the feed roll 37. This movement of the pitman 44 is limited by the flange portion 132 (FIG. 3) of the selecting arm 131 engaging the edge of the slot 98 in the pitman 44. Thus the length of feed that is given to the record slip by the feed roll 37 is controlled by the position of the selecting arm 131, which in turn is controlled by the adjusting screw 134 in the manner described previously. The rotation of the screw 134 slidably positions the arm 131 with respect to the adjusting arm 126.

As the pitman 44 moves to the left, the upper portion of the pitman engages the flange portion and the latch member 136 and rocks them clockwise, thereby releasing the feed selecting slide 121 to the action of the spring 142. TI-Iis spring action moves the flange portion 123 of the slide 121 against the bottom of the pitman 44, as shown in FIG. 6. At 205 of revolution, a printing operation occurs, which results in the printing of the amount indexed on the keyboard on the record slip.

Between 225 and 265 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, the cam 110 rocks the arm 107 clockwise, which moves the pitman 44 to the right towards its home position. This action returns the record slip from the printing position to its original position on the slip table, as shown in FIG. 12. As the pitman 44 moves to the right, the flange portion 123 of the slide 121 moves up against the bottom of the cutout portion 124 of the pitman 44 due to the action of the spring 142, but in front of and above the lip portion 138 of the latch 136. The distance between the edge of the lip portion 138 and the edge of the cutout portion 124 is equal to the distance between the print lines on the record slip. This distance is adjustable by the sue of the adjusting screw 125, which slidably positions the slide 121 with relation to the selecting arm 116.

Between 270 and 290 of the revolution of the cam shaft 77, the pitman 44 again moves to the left through the action of the cam 110. This movement is limited by the engagement of the flange portion 123 of the slide 121 with the edge of the cutout portion 124 of the pitman 44, which results in the record slips being moved into the machine to position the next print line adjacent to the index mark 30. At 290 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, a slip retainer arm 144 (FIG. 10), rotatably mounted on a shaft 145, is rocked counterclockwise by the action of a cam 146 mounted on the cam shaft 77. The action of the cam 146 (FIG. 2) is transmitted by a flange portion 147 of a cam follower arm 148 rotatably mounted on the shaft 60. A spring 150, mounted between the arm 148 and a connecting arm 151. rotatably mounted on the shaft 55, couples the action of the arm 148 to the arm 151. One end of the arm 151 is yoked over a stud 152, mounted on the arm 144. Thus the action of the earn 146 rocks the arm 144 clockwise to engage the record slip and hold it in its new position.

Between 290 and 305 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, the cam 62 (FIG. 8) releases the lever arm 54 to the action of the spring 63, which rocks the arm 54 clockwise, thus moving the link 46 to the left, thereby resulting in the opening of the feed roll 37. Prior to this time, the cam 76 (FIG. 4), between 240 and 290 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, will have released the cam follower arm 71 to the action of the spring 80. IF the selecting plate 83 had positioned the notch 85 adjacent to the stud 86 on the arm 71, the spring 80 rocks the arm 71 counterclockwise, allowing the stud 70 to cam the latch retainer 65 clockwise, thereby preventing the retainer 65 from latching the stud 72 on the link 46 as the link moves to the left under the action of the cam 62 described, above. This operation conditions the feed rolls to close between 320 and 340 on the release of the arm 54 by the cam 62, thereby allowing the link to move to the right by the action of the spring 47. This conditions the record slip for a further printing operation without the necessity of indexing an amount on the amount keys. This is the normal operation when an add operation has been programmed by the transaction key that has been depressed.

If the selecting plate 83 had been so positioned that its cam surface 87 engaged the stud 86, the arm 71 will be held in the position shown in FIG. 4. This position will tension the spring 47 so that, as the link 46 is moved to the left by the action of the cam 62 described above, the latch retainer 65 will latch the stud 72 on the link 46, thus holding the feed roll in an open position. This is shown in FIG. 2 with regard to the stud 75 on the cam 76. This condition requires the operator to index an amount on the amount keys and depress a transaction key to initiate a new machine operation.

After the feed roll 37 is opened, the cam 110 (FIGS. 3 and 6) again returns the pitman 44 to its home position, in the manner described previously, between 305 and 320 of revolution of the cam shaft. When the feed roll 37 had opened between 290 and 305 as described above, the pitman 44 will have been moved downwardly, thus allowing the latch member 136 to latch the flange portion 123 of the slide 121. With the return of the pitman 44 to its home position, the slide 121 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3. Between 335 and 355 of revolution of the cam shaft 77, the cam 76 (FIGS. 4 and 12) rocks the cam follower arm 71 clockwise about the shaft 60, which allows the latch retainer 65 to latch the stud 72 on the link 46, thus holding the feed roll 37 in an open position. The slip feedmechanism is now conditioned for a new operation.

It is seen from this construction that, after each printing operation, the record slip is automatically positioned for the next printing operation while allowing the operator to read the next entry from the record slip and to check the results of the previous printing operation. This allows for rapid processing of the record slip, which is so important in checkout operations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cash register constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of, printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a home position to a printing position including ,a. feeding means to engage and feed a record material between said home position and said printing position when operated;

shiftable drive member engaging said feeding means to operate said feeding means when shifted between a first and a second position whereby the record material is moved to said printing position;

c. a normally disengaged blocking member mounted adjacent said drive member and adapted, when released, to move to a blocking position with respect to said drive member to limit the movement of said drive member from said first position whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance equal to a print line;

d. a movably mounted latch member normally engaging said blocking member and positioned in the path of movement of said drive member, said latch member being actuated by said drive member when said drive member is shifted to said second position to release said blocking member;

e. and operating means engaging said drive member for reciprocally moving said drive member between said first and second positions whereby, after each printing operation, the record material is moved to position the next print line for a printing operation.

2. The record material feed mechanism of claim 1 in which said shiftable drive member comprises a pitman member having a stop portion;

said blocking member comprises a slide member having a first flange portion mounted adjacent the stop portion of said pitman member, said slide member being adapted for movement, when released, to position said flange portion in the path of said stop portion of said pitman member to limit the movement of said pitman member; and

resilient means mounted between said slide member and said latch member to normally move said first flange portion into engagement with said latch member whereby, upon movement of said pitman member to said second position, said latch member is actuated to release said slide member for movement by said resilient means.

3. The record material feed mechanism of claim 2 in which said latch member is rotatably mounted adjacent said pitman member, said latch member having a second flange portion positioned in the path of movement of said pitman member whereby, upon movement of the pitman member to said second position, said latch member is rotated by said pitman member to release said slide member for movement by said resilient means.

4. The record material feed mechanism of claim 3 in which said feeding means includes a support member rotatably mounted adjacent a record material;

a feed roll mounted on said support member;

a rack member mounted on said pitman member; and

a plurality of gear members engaging said feed roll and operated by said rack member to actuate said feed roll upon movement of said pitman member between said first and second positions.

5. The record material feed mechanism of claim 4 which includes I i a. a shiftable link member engaging said support member;

b. means for shifting said link member to an operated position whereby said feed roll is moved into engagement with a record material including c. a yieldable member engaging said link member for normally shifting said link member to an operated position;

d. means for latching said link member from an operated position; i i

e. control means for disabling said latch member to allow said link member to move to an operated position includmg f. a first lever member engaging said latch member;

g. cyclic operating means effective at the beginning of each machine operation to actuate said first lever member, thereby disabling said latch member;

h. a second lever member engaging said latching means and actuated by said cyclic operating means to release said link member during each machine operation;

i. a predetermined number of depressible control keys for initiating a machine operation when depressed;

j. and a movable blocking means positioned adjacent said second lever member for normally blocking the movement of said second lever member by said cyclic operating means, said blocking means being adapted for movement to a position releasing said second lever member upon depression of one of said control keys whereby the record slip is engaged by the feed roll for a subsequent printing operation during the operation of said cyclic operating means.

6. In a cash register having a slip table and constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a position on the slip table to a printing position and back, including a. feeding means to engage and feed a record material positioned on the slip table a predetermined distance to said printing position and back when operated;

b. a shiftable rack member engaging said feeding means, said rack member having a first stop portion and adapted to operate said feeding means when shifted a predetermined distance between a first position and a second position whereby the record material is moved to 'said printing position;

a first adjustable control means slidably mounted on said rack member for controlling the length of movement of the rack member between the first and second positions;

. a first arm member mounted adjacent said rack members;

e. a first slide member slidably mounted on said arm member and having a blocking portion positioned adjacent the first stop portion of said rack member, said slide member being effective, when operated, to position the blocking portion in the path of movement of said stop portion to limit the movement of the rack member from said first position, whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance equal to a print line;

f. means mounted in the path of movement of aid rack member for latching said slide member from an operated position, said latching means being actuated by said rack member when shifted to said second position to release said slide member to an operated position;

g. cyclic operating means for shifting said rack member between said first and second positions and back;

h. and a second adjustable control means mounted between said first arm member and said first slide member to slidably position the blocking portion of said slide member with respect to said stop portion whereby the length of feed of said feeding means is adjustable.

7. The mechanism for feeding a record material of claim 6 in which a. said shiftable rack member has a second stop portion;

b. said first adjustable control means comprises a second slide member slidably mounted on said rack member, said second slide member having a flange portion in the path of said second stop portion;

' c. and a first adjusting means mounted between said rack member and said second slide member to slidably position said flange portion with respect to said second stop portion whereby said rack member is shifted to feed the record material a distance determined by said adjusting means.

8. The mechanism for feeding a record material of claim 7 in which said first adjusting means and said second adjustable means comprise a screw member whereby, upon adjusting said screw member, the length of feed of the record material to said printing position and the next print line is controlled.

9. In a cash register having a slip table and constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a position on the slip table to a printing position'and back, including a. feeding means mounted adjacent the slip table and adapted, when operated, for movement to a position engaging and feeding a record material on the slip table to said printing position and back when actuated;

a shiftable rack member mounted adjacent said feeding means, said'rack member having a cutout portion forming a stop surface; 7 c. drive means engaging said feeding means and operated by said rack member to operate said feeding means when the rack member is moved between a first position and a second position whereby the record material is moved to said printing position;

d. a slide member rotatably mounted adjacent said rack member,said slide member having a flange portion positioned adjacent the cutout portion of said rack member, said slide member being effective, when rotated, to position the flange portion within said cutout portion and in the path of said stop surface to limit the movement of said rack member to said second position whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance to condition the next print line for a printing operation;

e. a latch member rotatably mounted adjacent said rack member and said flange portion, said latch member having a lip portion to latch said flange portion from an engaging posrtlon with said stop surface when the latch member is rotated to a latching position, and a blocking portion normally positioned in the path of movement of said rack member, said blocking portion being effective to rotate said latch member to a nonlatching position when said rack member is moved to said second position whereby said slide member is rotated to position the flange portion in the path of said stop portion;

f. a spring member mounted between the latch member and said slide member for normally urging said latch to said latching portion, said spring member adapted, upon rotation of said latch member, to said nonlatching position, to rotate said slide member to position the flange portion in the path of said stop portion;

g. a first cyclic control means engaging said feeding means to move said feeding means to a position engaging the record material;

h. and a second cyclic control means engaging said rack member to consecutively move said rack member between said first and second positions and back, whereby the record material is first moved to said printing position and then moved to condition the next print line for said printing operation. 

1. In a cash register constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a home position to a printing position including a. feeding means to engage and feed a record material between said home position and said printing position when operated; a shiftable drive member engaging said feeding means to operate said feeding means when shifted between a first and a second position whereby the record material is moved to said printing position; c. a normally disengaged blocking member mounted adjacent said drive member and adapted, when released, to move to a blocking position with respect to said drive member to limit the movement of said drive member from said first position whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance equal to a print line; d. a movably mounted latch member normally engaging said blocking member and positioned in the path of movement of said drive member, said latch member being actuated by said drive member when said drive member is shifted to said second position to release said blocking member; e. and operating means engaging said drive member for reciprocally moving said drive member between said first and second positions whereby, after each printing operation, the record material is moved to position the next print line for a printing operation.
 2. The record material feed mechanism of claim 1 in which said shiftable drive member comprises a pitman member having a stop portion; said blocking member comprises a slide member having a first flange portion mounted adjacent the stop portion of said pitman member, said slide member being adapted for movement, when released, to position said flange portion in the path of said stop portion of said pitman member to limit the movement of said pitman member; and resilient means mounted between said slide member and said latch member to normally move said first flange portion into engagement with said latch member whereby, upon movement of said pitman member to said second position, said latch member is actuated to release said slide member for movement by said resilient means.
 3. The record material feed mechanism of claim 2 in which said latch member is rotatably mounted adjacent said pitman member, said latch member having a second flange portion positioned in the path of movement of said pitman member whereby, upon movement of the pitman member to said second position, said latch member is rotated by said pitman member to release said slide member for movement by said resilient means.
 4. The record material feed mechanism of claim 3 in which said feeding means includes a support member rotatably mounted adjacent a record material; a feed roll mounted on said support member; a rack member mounted on said pitman member; and a plurality Of gear members engaging said feed roll and operated by said rack member to actuate said feed roll upon movement of said pitman member between said first and second positions.
 5. The record material feed mechanism of claim 4 which includes a. a shiftable link member engaging said support member; b. means for shifting said link member to an operated position whereby said feed roll is moved into engagement with a record material including c. a yieldable member engaging said link member for normally shifting said link member to an operated position; d. means for latching said link member from an operated position; e. control means for disabling said latch member to allow said link member to move to an operated position including f. a first lever member engaging said latch member; g. cyclic operating means effective at the beginning of each machine operation to actuate said first lever member, thereby disabling said latch member; h. a second lever member engaging said latching means and actuated by said cyclic operating means to release said link member during each machine operation; i. a predetermined number of depressible control keys for initiating a machine operation when depressed; j. and a movable blocking means positioned adjacent said second lever member for normally blocking the movement of said second lever member by said cyclic operating means, said blocking means being adapted for movement to a position releasing said second lever member upon depression of one of said control keys whereby the record slip is engaged by the feed roll for a subsequent printing operation during the operation of said cyclic operating means.
 6. In a cash register having a slip table and constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a position on the slip table to a printing position and back, including a. feeding means to engage and feed a record material positioned on the slip table a predetermined distance to said printing position and back when operated; b. a shiftable rack member engaging said feeding means, said rack member having a first stop portion and adapted to operate said feeding means when shifted a predetermined distance between a first position and a second position whereby the record material is moved to said printing position; c. a first adjustable control means slidably mounted on said rack member for controlling the length of movement of the rack member between the first and second positions; d. a first arm member mounted adjacent said rack members; e. a first slide member slidably mounted on said arm member and having a blocking portion positioned adjacent the first stop portion of said rack member, said slide member being effective, when operated, to position the blocking portion in the path of movement of said stop portion to limit the movement of the rack member from said first position, whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance equal to a print line; f. means mounted in the path of movement of aid rack member for latching said slide member from an operated position, said latching means being actuated by said rack member when shifted to said second position to release said slide member to an operated position; g. cyclic operating means for shifting said rack member between said first and second positions and back; h. and a second adjustable control means mounted between said first arm member and said first slide member to slidably position the blocking portion of said slide member with respect to said stop portion whereby the length of feed of said feeding means is adjustable.
 7. The mechanism for feeding a record material of claim 6 in which a. said shiftable rack member has a second stop portion; b. said first adjustable control means comprises a second slide member slidably mounted on said rack member, saId second slide member having a flange portion in the path of said second stop portion; c. and a first adjusting means mounted between said rack member and said second slide member to slidably position said flange portion with respect to said second stop portion whereby said rack member is shifted to feed the record material a distance determined by said adjusting means.
 8. The mechanism for feeding a record material of claim 7 in which said first adjusting means and said second adjustable means comprise a screw member whereby, upon adjusting said screw member, the length of feed of the record material to said printing position and the next print line is controlled.
 9. In a cash register having a slip table and constructed and arranged to perform a plurality of printing operations on a number of print lines located on a record material, a mechanism for feeding a record material from a position on the slip table to a printing position and back, including a. feeding means mounted adjacent the slip table and adapted, when operated, for movement to a position engaging and feeding a record material on the slip table to said printing position and back when actuated; b. a shiftable rack member mounted adjacent said feeding means, said rack member having a cutout portion forming a stop surface; c. drive means engaging said feeding means and operated by said rack member to operate said feeding means when the rack member is moved between a first position and a second position whereby the record material is moved to said printing position; d. a slide member rotatably mounted adjacent said rack member, said slide member having a flange portion positioned adjacent the cutout portion of said rack member, said slide member being effective, when rotated, to position the flange portion within said cutout portion and in the path of said stop surface to limit the movement of said rack member to said second position whereby said feeding means will feed the record material a distance to condition the next print line for a printing operation; e. a latch member rotatably mounted adjacent said rack member and said flange portion, said latch member having a lip portion to latch said flange portion from an engaging position with said stop surface when the latch member is rotated to a latching position, and a blocking portion normally positioned in the path of movement of said rack member, said blocking portion being effective to rotate said latch member to a nonlatching position when said rack member is moved to said second position whereby said slide member is rotated to position the flange portion in the path of said stop portion; f. a spring member mounted between the latch member and said slide member for normally urging said latch to said latching portion, said spring member adapted, upon rotation of said latch member, to said nonlatching position, to rotate said slide member to position the flange portion in the path of said stop portion; g. a first cyclic control means engaging said feeding means to move said feeding means to a position engaging the record material; h. and a second cyclic control means engaging said rack member to consecutively move said rack member between said first and second positions and back, whereby the record material is first moved to said printing position and then moved to condition the next print line for said printing operation. 